office romance but better
let me preface by saying i love secretive romance, romance where couple has to hide that theyre together in a public setting, but in private everything is hot and heavy?? secretive eye contact that only they know the meaning of?? accidental but not really skinship??? them taking care of each other in their own way when no one else notices??? who doesn't love this!!!i love the actors hence the reason why i started watching them. was the high school setting needed when the actors are already in their 30s?? no i wish the cp age in the drama are set older instead of late 20s, dont be shy!! we need more proper adult romance!! i cringe watching the flashbacks bcs theyre just adults among teenagers buuuut it is cute nevertheless.
i think the romance is mature what with the start of the coupling, the eventual romance, incidents, third and many more parties interference, etc. they learn to become a couple eventually with better communcation with each other and not shying away from saying what needs to be said. the parents are good influence for them. this eventually helps them in their change of office dynamic where he becomes the direct boss and she as one of the employees. the characters have their flaws and problems yet it doesnt hinder their relationship, theyre supportive of each other respectful trustworthy. one of the better romance in cdrama
edit: finished and im glad the romance stays fluffy til the end. this is feel good romantic story with some (minimal) drama. ps: do read the webnovel its rly good!!
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This review may contain spoilers
The sparks and the spices
This dating reality show is so enjoyable. There are sparks but at the same time spices as well. The whole concept of the dating show is interesting especially the phone call to express the feeling part. The phone calls kept me at edge. Like I could never predict who each of the contestant would call. It was interesting and at the same time agonizing especially the phone calls involving the love triangles.WARNING: Major spoilers ahead!!
Honestly Junseong and Sungho are the best part of the show for me. I rooted for them since the very first phone call. "Roommate, hi" was what got me into the show and I fell deeper and deeper episode by episode. I couldn't help but cheer for Junseong. He was so sure about who he wanted and the way he expressed his feelings in the most sincere way whenever he got the chance to, every second of it was absolutely worth witnessing. On the other hand Sungho was sure about his feelings towards Seonwoo until he wasn't. He wavered ever since the first call from JS. From "friendship 100% love zero" to "Beside Junseong, others are like friends or colleagues to me", he came a long way. And damn their dates were an absolute delight to see especially the one after call match. The sparks were flying everywhere. They really stole the whole show for me,
Moving on to Seonwoo, I won't lie at first it really felt like he was leading everyone on and I wasn't quite a fan of it but as I watched more of him, he grew on me. And the love triangle of Hyun Joon, Minsung and Hyun Jin, it was a bit of a mess. For most of the part except Hyun Joon, the other two seemed confused. They were certain one moment and the next moment they were not. It was honestly agonizing to see but I do get it that none of them were actually at fault. However, I liked Min Sung and Hyun Joon together. Their date was cute. But it's commendable how Hyun Joon stood up for himself. Also, Yunghee damn he was so consistent and his efforts towards SW melted me. And Jeongwook this guy deserves nothing but happiness. He is such a softball mahn. I wish each one of them a happy life. I hope they live it to their best and also find the one they love and who loves them back too.
Overall an enjoyable show that kept me awake one whole night and even after I caught up to the recent episodes I could not stop myself from binge watching it. Highly recommended!!
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This review may contain spoilers
The abundance of (epic) tragedy is KDrama at its finest - meanwhile the Joseon empire is born
"My Country - The New Age" is set in the historical transition period between the Goryeo era and the Joseon era. The context is General Yi Song-gye, who for the next approximately 5 centuries tied the throne to his bloodline with a coup d'etat. However, this KDrama isn´t a history lesson as such, though historical figures get involved. Also romance is not the predominant matter. ... First and foremost it's about loyalty, unconditional male friendship and love as its basis. Secondly, it is about relationships between fathers and sons. Thirdly it is about romantic love, too. Besides and as a backbone for the storyline´s dramatic dynamics it its about political attitudes, visionary leaders and the throne. Overall, "My Country - The New Age" is definitely worth seeing, yet you should be prepared for makjang-like emotional roller coasters.The actors significantly contribute to the intensity of the story. Above all, the charisma of Jang Hyuk as Lee Bang-won (the 5th son of General Yi and later 1st Joseon King), as well as Ahn Nae-sang as the fictional Nam Jeon, whose political stances are reminiscent of the historical Jong Do-jeon (the historical Jong Do-jeon and chief chancellor, who set the political, administrative and legal course for the newly blossoming Joseon Empire.)
----------------- SIDE NOTE: --- Lee Bang-won (later King Taejong) and Jong Do-jeon (first chief chancellor of the Joseon aera) ---
These two crucial historical personalities (Lee Bang-won and Jong Do-jeon) were both driving forces in those early years of the new empire with quite lasting impact, and at their time fundamental adversaries.
Jong Do-jeon as the first Joseon King´s chief chancellor decided all matters relating to military affairs, diplomatic procedures, questions of education, new legislation and constitution (the once feudal state was now organized in a bureaucratic manner), new tax laws as well as new state religion (Buddhism became Confucianism). He ultimately moved the capital to Hanyang (now Seoul). He also named the districts of Hanyang and the 8 provinces in the country and caused many slaves to be freed. He was a man with strong visions for an innovative political system in the new kingdom - and consequently implemented those (quite unscrupulously).
His opponent was Yi Bang-won, who did not want an empire with ministers being more important than the king. Rather, he prefered a powerful monarch, a solidly grounded monarchy. He was also one of those who had contributed most to his father's successful coup d´etat. However, the latter had finally disappointed him by not choosing him as his successor. After the Queen's death, Bang-won took advantage of his father's period of mourning and invaded the palace. In doing so, he killed the state chancellor, all ministers loyal to him and the children of the deceased queen as well as the crown prince, too. So he (also) took the throne by force - his father could only abdicate and reluctantly hand over the crown. However, as King Taejong, Bang-won effectively contributed to a stable system of government in his own way. Among other things, he enacted a law allowing all citizens to register and established new Ministries: of Human Resources, Finance, Protocol, Defence, Justice and Public Affairs.
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With Jang Hyuk as Lee Bang-won and Ahn Nae-sang as the fictional Nam Jeon, who to a certain extent represents the ideas of Jong Do-jeon, the KDrama paints a strong picture of the crucial conflict between those political visions from the very beginning. The actors live their roles with high intensity. We get to know more about their character in their respective relationships with the two protagonists Seo Hwi, son of a once-legendary soldier of the Goryeo Empire, and Nam Sun-ho, the illegitimate son by Minister Nam Joen. Since childhood they are best friends. Then there is a twist of fate. (Here, again: two actors with splendid performance - Yang Se-jong and Woo Do-hwan.) Minister Nam Jeon alone is responsible for the twist of fate in this friendship, but Prince Bang-won becomes a free rider in this.
In short: "My Country: The New Age" offers an epic, visually stunning story with a lot of action and emotion, worth seeing sword fights (actor Jang Hyuk does the stunts all by himself), plenty of blood and even more emotion. Yes, of course there are also women and love involved ... The abundance of (epic) tragedy is KDrama at its finest.
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It was good till it was not.
Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get. Success and happiness doesn't necessarily go hand in hand but what matters is how you strive to maintain a balance between them as well as thrive with a content heart.Drama series UNCLE is a remake of the UK television series of the same title that aired on Channel 4 in 2012 and BBC One from 2014 to 2017, created by Oliver Refson and Lilah Vandenburgh. Its a mixture of comedy, melodrama, music and makjang. The Korean remake is produced by 2 companies "Hi Ground" and "Monster Union", broadcasted on TV Chosun.
UNCLE is a story about a failed musician who takes over his sister for taking care of his nephew and the family who move into an apartment complex as renters while trying to escape from their abusive family. The story includes the uncle trying to rise in his failed career as well as trying to protect his nephew from all the odds created by the ruthless Granny and the sly group of mothers, namely "Momblies".
Wang Joon Hyuk (Oh Jung Se) despite his failed music career due to fraud and betrayal by his friends and family is a sincere and selfless person always ready to lend a helping hand to the needy. Already distanced from his family, he initially hesitates to meet them but eventually embraces them with all his love. Min Ji Hoo (Lee Kyung Hoon) is a kind-hearted kid with OCD who gets panic attack even by thinking about his granny. He's inclined to music just like his uncle and loves his mother so much. He takes his time getting used to his uncle and later on becomes so fond of him that he can't imagine his life without his beloved uncle.
Wang Joon Hee (Jeon Hye Jin) is a divorced lady who separated from her husband after being abused for 12 years by his in-laws, to protect her son who also was beaten mercilessly. Her character is something that wins heart by realistically expressing her emotional curves, a character with an unusual narrative. Park Hye Ryung (Park Sun Young) is a sly and manipulative lady who controls the group of rich mothers, called "Momblies" as it's "Diamond". With her connections and influence she can pull any thing off but chooses to veil her toxic life with lies.
Other good actors in major roles are Ju Kyung Il (Lee Sang Woo), Kim Yoo Ra (Hwang Woo Seul Hye) and Chun Da Jung (Jung Soo Young) as the residents of the apartment complex. Song Hwa Eum (Lee Shi Won) as the middle school teacher, Jang Ik (Ahn Suk Hwan), as the 'Hot Bar' owner, Shin Hwa Ja (Song Ok Sook) as the Chairperson of Gangto Money and Ji Hoo's Granny, Min Kyung Soo (Yoon Hee Suk) as Ji Hoo's father.
Among other major child actors are Ju No Eul (Yun Hye Bin), Ye So Dam (Kim Ha Yun), Shin Min Ki (Go Kyung Min) and Park Se Chan (Park Shi Wan).
Plot development in overal is just fine. The introductory episodes were impressive though the screenplay didn't seem usual and it was difficult to decipher whether it'll be a sitcom or melodrama themed. Progression was also good despite very typical elements used; it might seem like a makjang but it's actually not. Personally, I liked it a lot for the first half and it continued to be entertaining even after interval, until the 10th episode where it started going downhill.
The major characters suddenly become dumb out of nowhere, unable to decipher the conspiracies by the antagonist side. It takes at least 2 episodes for them to figure things out and then their strategies to counterstrike them were even more typical, which even became very repetitive. The final outcomes by the end of 14th episode weren't very impressive and didn't keep up the interest for the finale week. And trust me, the finale week was even more underwhelming.
Despite the shoddy decline towards the ending, one thing that remained constant was the love uncle had for his nephew, which, in fact, saw an uprise in the graph. Many scenes involving the heart-touching interactions between many characters were emotional. The story involves many elements such as: failed marriage, abusive relationships, mental health of children, bad parenting issues, greed for power and money, teenage pregnancy, toxic relationships, devotion for music, ideal teaching techniques,
Ji Young Soo PD-nim and Park Ji Sook jakka-nim have fair share of experience in the industry; even though the drama isn't that good, their skills were well-utilized. The screen-editing, play management and execution is well taken care of. The writing was a bit off and I think the major issue was turning a sitcom into melodrama. The screenplay is surely full of comical elements for most of its parts but it wasn't portrayed as a sitcom to begin with. 3/4th of the story is okay but the last quarter becomes shoddy.
There 12 OSTs in total with 3-4 tracks used as a drama version (as Joon Hyuk is a singer) which are sung by Sangmin Chu to keep a consistent voice for J. KING. "Your Dream" by Sangmin Chu is my most favourite followed by "Living Together" by Sangmin Chu and Lee Kyung Hoon (Ji Hoo). Sangmin Chu has also sung "Even if we break up", "Time to say goodbye" (drama version), "On The Beach" and "By your side". "BLUE BIRD" by Lunch, "Stay with me" by Lee Kyung Hoon (Ji Hoo), "Love Sign" by Lizia and "Not Alone" by Bae Sung Yoon are some other tracks from the drama. "Butterfly" sung by the child actors of the drama is so cute.
Overally, "UNCLE (엉클)" is a good one time watch. Too many characters and incomplete arcs were the limitations of the drama and it went downhill in the later half but it's not really bad having so many heart touching moments. The first half (or let's say till 10th ep) was a fairly balanced watch. Can't say it's a must watch or something but it doesn't really offer something exciting or impressive to look forward to, either.
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What a hilarious ride!
So let me tell you first... it doesn't have anything special in the story coz it's pretty much a whole mess. Plus it is a very very low-budget drama so if you like beautiful sets, costumes, and all other things... then it's not the right place to find coz you'll be disappointed at the end of the day. It doesn't have anything which can count as great or amazing.BUT it doesn't mean it's not worth watching. You just have to switch off your brain for a while and enjoy this hilarious ride, it's so funny and interesting. Five brothers what's say about them lol.. the twins nailed in their chemistry, and the kid haha I really liked him. And yeah hats off to FL for her expressions coz they were priceless.
So if you are looking just for fun.... and entertainment nothing more than that, then go for it!
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This review may contain spoilers
Do not watch this drama thinking it will be like Prince of Lan Ling. That drama is focused on Lan Ling King himself while this drama is like part-fantasy of both kingdoms and who will conquer the world once they unlock the secret using the mirror and sword (forgot their names), and the female lead's love life.This drama started out quite interesting but after she met Lanling King, I think the plot became really repetitive. She became really indecisive between both men and went back and forth several times, which I thought was really unnecessary. They could have cut that down a bit so the drama wouldn't be so lengthy, too. Beware, this drama starts out *very* cliche and unrealistic. Just a warning, both love-lines are pretty cruel romances and the sweet moments don't last long.
As for the characters, you have the typical cold-hearted main male lead (Yu Wenyong) who slowly warms up and is very protective, and you have the typical kind second male lead (Lanling King) who's always there to save the day. The main female lead is also the typical girl who doesn't lose to anyone easily and plays around to annoy you. Yu Wenyong has quick character development, followed by the main female lead; however, I didn't see much development for Lanling King. Going on a tangent, I think Lanling King's role was poorly written in this drama because he's known for being smart and strategic, but here he seems to be weak in planning and always listens to whatever everyone else suggests. He doesn't have a stance and can't do anything on his own will.
The acting was alright overall. I think some crying scenes were a bit forced and cringe-worthy, but otherwise it was bearable. Nothing was super unnatural or out of frame. The music is very nice and suits the scenes. There's pretty much just the opening theme and ending theme; the former used more with Yu Wenyong and the latter used primarily with Lanling King--it's like their personal songs. Overall, I personally like Yu Wenyong more so if I were to rewatch, I would just skip to his scenes because it's really heartwarming to see a cold playboy turn into a loving and protective man.
TLDR; This drama is watchable but does get long and draggy in the middle. There were lots of unnecessary parts of the plot and cliches, but I think it is still a pretty good watch. This drama is definitely not for you if you want to see the female lead end up with one guy quick (because she's wishy-washy).
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I also really loved how relatable it is, and throughout the series, the overall message is that every love story may or may not have a good ending which is a very relatable message. The overall thing I hate with this drama is the second lead syndrome you get, it just breaks my heart. This series was truly a masterpiece though. The soundtrack is very memorable, and I am obsessed with this.
And lastly, the acting was amazing and everybody had chemistry. I really loved this series and I recommend it to anybody. I would definitely rewatch it infinite times if I could.
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The Sweetest Slice of Life Drama
First off, it takes a lot for a show to keep me invested for 16 episodes; I do not complete most of the shows that I watch because I often lose interest, and, after a week of working hard, I often don't feel pushed to pick up a show again on the weekend when I have time to watch TV. I am still surprised this show kept me captivated for all of the 16 episodes. I kept coming back every weekend (it's the only time I can watch). Many people don't seem to like the show or appreciate it, so let me clarify who this show is meant for.This show is meant for:
-People who like slice of life: Nothing much happens in this show; you just go about 4 teenagers living their lives at a vocational school. All four have dreams, and we witness them work hard to chase what they want in life.
-People who like to see relationships slowly unfold: This is especially true of the second couple. You see them become friends; and then you see them get closer to each other. You actually see them fall in love,and you understand why they fall in love with each other. This is the highlight of the show for me. There is no love at first sight or rushing of feelings here; both of the romances are sweet and portrayed with sensitivity.
-People who want to see relationships done well: There are no silly breakups; there is no toxic behavior or selfishness. You get to see 4 teenagers facing their feelings head on, acting on their feelings, and being respectful of each other's wants. I also loved that no one allowed their feelings to impact their dreams; both FLs stood by their guy; they were loyal and loving. That never impacted their attention to their futures, and I loved that. Your romantic relationships should never get in the way of your ability to make a future for yourself. The men were also very loving and respectful to the woman in their life. They never over-stepped or pushed, and they always respected what their girlfriend wanted.
-People who want to see characters develop: In the beginning, Youngjoo was a sullen kid, angry with everyone, and friendless. By the end, he admitted to his faults; he encouraged Seoyoung to chase her dreams; and he had a friend group who had his back. In the beginning, Seoyoung was single-minded about going to college. I loved her ambition, but she was the type to give up everything to achieve her dream. Now, she realizes that achieving one's dreams at the cost of someone else is not worth it. She can go to university without having to ruin an innocent family to do so. I love that they each brought out the best in each other. Individually, they are both better people now than when they started. I think this is what makes School 2021 special for me; they took everyday tropes, and they carried them out with sensitivity and nuance.
Do NOT watch this show if:
-You want action, drama, or anything complicated
-You want a plot that is new or creative in any way (this is a show where high schoolers act like high schoolers; you just see them go about their days.).
Not only was I charmed by the show; I would say it is one of my top 5 kdramas. You're really missing out if you don't watch it. Also, the first episode is a bit slow; give it 2 or 3 episodes before you judge.
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2-Storyline/Plot : Many would think that the story of an idol falling for a normal girl is so common and cheesy but this film story took a different level since it focused on finding a soulmate through music so the plot's setting was sort of unique. However, the romantic side wasn't satisfying since the story's development didn't focus on many important elements.
The music in here was amazing: a combination between classical Chinese music and the modern Chinese pop; I don't really focus on any film/drama's music while watching especially Chinese ones but the music felt like a deep core in this film. Great job!!
3-Acting/Cast : Wang Leehom has done everything here: playing the dorkey, the famous, the smart, the dumb; he did a great job indeed.
The lead actress succeeded in playing the innocent simple character; The cast was good enough and the acting was satisfying.
4-The ending : A typical rom-com ending; nothing special about it.
5-My Impression: Whan I started watching this film, I didn't have any expectations for it but later on I surprised myself by liking it plus I was literally blown by the music, I never thought that it could've been that great.
6-Overall : If you're rom-com lover then you would like this.
If you like idol shows then you need to watch this.
If you like classical or modern Chinese music then you would love this.
If you like Wang Leehom then you really need to watch this.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Heartwarming and Wholesome Youth C-Drama That Feels Like Home
WOW! Just finished this and what a beautiful drama it was! I binge-watched all the episodes over the past few days and it was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions! I rarely binge-watch dramas since I usually prefer ongoing ones, but with some free time on my hands, I gave this a shot. Honestly, it is one of the best youth dramas I have seen.I am truly in awe of how wholesome and heartwarming youth C-Dramas can be.
I especially adored our main couple, Xichi and Huan’er. Their journey from strangers to neighbors, classmates, friends, best friends, lovers, and finally family was so naturally and beautifully written. Their relationship felt so genuine, and you could really see and feel how much they cherished each other’s company.
It has been a while since I have seen such a well-balanced relationship in a drama. Both of them gave so much to each other, offering unwavering support along the way. They were both walking green flags, wholesome, funny, and downright adorable. I am really going to miss them.
Another highlight for me was the parents of the trio. I do not think I have ever liked so many parents in a C-Drama before. They had distinct personalities that made them feel like real people rather than just being there as “the parents” of the main characters. It was so refreshing.
The humor in this drama was also totally my style, with no over-the-top slapstick or forced comedy-relief characters. I especially loved Xichi, as he was such a funny and witty character. But the humor did not stop with him, since his friends, classmates, and even the parents all had their own hilarious moments.
Overall, I absolutely loved this drama and highly recommend it if you enjoy youth and family-centered stories. Even though I am a romance lover and could not wait for them to grow up and get together, I have to admit that I enjoyed the middle and high school scenes the most. The university portion felt a bit superficial and lacked the depth of their earlier years. I found their home life far more engaging, which is why I think the title "Always Home" was the perfect choice. That sense of warmth and belonging was truly the heart of the story.
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Painting A Painful yet Beautiful Gestures and Emotions into One Huge Canvas.
Visually this movie is really artistic, aside from the aesthetics and beautiful cinematography, the performances of the actors come out like a combined art in the movie, it's like they're painting a painful yet beautiful gestures and emotions into one huge canvas.Performance wise, the actors successfully conveying the messages of the story with their whole body, eyes, slight hands or shoulders movements, even the way they breathe can tell us the solid messages and emotions. Salute to all actors, no exceptions, even the child actors and the cameos, they show great acting quality, especially Song Kang Ho, Lee Ji Eun aka IU and Bae Doona.
We don't need to question any more about the acting quality Song Kang Ho has, there were one scene he walked while holding a doll after seeing his daughter, and he made me want to cry just by looking at his back. He is great and his all performances as Sanghyun, lead this movie so well.
I'm still shocked with IU, I actually didn't expect her to be this excellent for her movie debut. Her quality is multiple times better than her previous project, from facial expression, tones, gestures are all leveled up. Here she knows how to brings out enough portion of the emotions she has to show in every scene, and that looks visually poetic. There were not many scene where we can see Soyoung having a long physical contact with her own baby, Woosung, but once it happen -although it might look awkward, which is realistic, since Soyoung herself is an unprepared young mother- you can feel the hidden affections and the maternal instinct she has toward her baby, as a mother myself, i can clearly see it, maybe the other moms who watch this movie will feel the way i do.
The chemistry she has with Dong Soo is like a sweet bonus we get from the movie, proving that even without a physical contact you can still feel the butterflies by only seeing the image of Soyoung and Dongsoo in one frame. People keep mentioning the Ferris Wheel scene, yes it's so touching and heart breaking and i cried, but you'll actually see more of it throughout the movie.
Bae Doona as Soojin is not shown really often in the movie, but there were one scene where she has a conversation on the phone with someone, we don't really know who or what that other person says to her but her whole expression and tone in that scene is like telling a huge pain she has been dealing, whatever it is.
Story wise, it is kinda slowburn, up until half of the story. Surely it's not the type of movie that would make you cry a river, leave us in lots of angst nor laugh the hell out. It stays in the middle but if we see it in a positive way, actually with that we can slowly understand their wound and clearly see the emotion transitions in each character, also how they develop, personally it helps me to catch the feeling throughout the movie.
There were no long or difficult to understand narrations and dialogues, but almost every dialogues come with huge impact and weight.
Like everyone else's favorite, the "Thank you for being born" that said with IU's voice it's so precious, and i cried when the kiddo Hyejin say it to her in return.
In the end of the story, all of the characters here trying to find the best way to protect baby Woosung, it's heartbreaking and beautiful in the same time.
With this movie, Koreeda is trying to tell us not every woman who gave birth to a baby has an ability to be a mother, but every children that born deserves to receive protection and love from the adults around them. And that an action most people consider as irresponsible might be the best way to protect someone.
I watched this with my husband and our baby boy, my hubby cried a little at Soyoung and Soojin conversation inside the car. And on the way home he thanked me for giving birth and spending most of my time taking care of our son.
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The best part of the show for me was Chris Wu who was awesome and such a treat to watch. His character Huo Ting En was smart, mature, thoughtful,a great mentor and respected the heroine's opinions and decisions. Also the female lead was intelligent and spunky and not annoying like most of the female leads in Taiwanese dramas.The chemistry between the leads was crackling and the bromance between Huo Ting En and Peng Xiao Bin was really fun. The second leads are also not irritating and there are no out and out villans in the drama. Not a bad show in any way but would have become a favorite had it ended a couple of episodes early.
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And in one day its love
I started this show by accident, I had no plans to actually watch it. It was the BEST accident that has ever happened. Although, this review will be ongoing and is subject to change. I would say this is fast becoming one of my TOP 5 favorites of all time. I have not been disappointed by anything, the development of the story, or the lessons along the way. I always want more, I cannot wait for the next episode and sometimes it leaves me thinking of positive things I could consider within my own life. Can't ask for much more, except please hurry and show the next episode. :) So far I am in love!Was this review helpful to you?
Best Kdrama to start in 2025
This is my first Kdrama series in 2025 and it's absolute banger and has a great OST. Love the chemistry of the leads and has a good supporting characters. The series delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments while maintaining a heartfelt and mature tone.If you’re looking for a romantic office drama with depth and charm, this one’s a must-watch. For me, it’s a solid 10/10!
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1Everything was going great… until episode 8.
I swear, episode 8 is like the Bermuda Triangle of Korean dramas — after that, the story either completely falls apart or keeps me hooked.Guess which one I got?
Yep. The curse of episode 8 is alive and well.
To sum it up in fewer words:Started strong. Then... not so much. I’m actually annoyed by how disappointing this was.
I knew I should've DNF'd, but
1) Only two episodes remained until the finale
and
2) Transmigration is one of my favorite genres.
I have to be honest — I really struggled with how to rate and review this.
The plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking — it's very predictable — but the relationship between the leads is genuinely fun. That’s actually the reason I’m giving it 5 stars. Despite all the flaws in the plot and especially the worldbuilding, the dynamic between Cha Seon Chaek and Yi Beon really worked for me.
The female lead isn’t annoying, just incredibly gullible. She’s just.. like a Disney character wandering into a horror movie. The male lead, on the other hand, seems irredeemable at first — he’s rude, violent, manipulative, and overall just an unpleasant, scowling human being. But if you look past all that (and squint a little), he’s kind of a cute, sad, walking red flag. He's clearly hurting — and emotionally constipated.
It started off well: fresh, funny, and easy to enjoy. Like an anime full of mischievous characters — some charming, some mean, some secretly evil. And then — BAM — things got real. Like, overdramatically real. Suddenly it felt like the whole world turned upside down.I haven’t read the original, so I was truly caught off guard. Wait, wait… What just happened?
It’s as if the writer had a checklist they were determined to complete:
Someone gets sick (Surprise)
Power struggles
Prince rivalry
Mysterious long-lost love from 15 years ago (because, of course)
Tedious family drama
Toxic best friend (of course)
Time travel/magical return to her original world
Mild identity crisis
His Majesty — completely manipulated, as tradition story.
A dramatic solar eclipse (because the CGI team needs something to do).
An unexpected return.
And of course, at least a few assassination attempts.
Did I miss something? Because somewhere between episodes, it turned into a cliché-packed soap opera that lost all its original charm. It became boring, frustrating, and painfully formulaic. Even a sweet ending wasn’t enough to redeem it.
And then it ended. Finally. I was relieved. This series had no right to be this bad.
I watched it. I finished it. I survived it.
Let’s never speak of it again.
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