Completed
Love's in Sight!
38 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2021
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 5
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

A true joy to watch - with a HEALTHY & WHOLESOME relationship! :D

If you think that this is some tearjerking, serious, or sentimental drama just because it deals with disabilities (the poster image on here really makes it look that way), I assure you, it’s the complete opposite. Full of fluffy, goodhearted romance and comedy, and most importantly, one of the rare dramas that has a healthy relationship with open communication and realistic problems between two socially belittled individuals, Koi Desu may just be one of my favourite J-Dramas of this year. FINALLY Sugino has a breakthrough character that perfectly fits him, and the acting between both FL and ML is effortless and it just makes you feel all warm and fluffy while watching them!

Sugino Yosuke has really been meh in other shoujo/josei dramas I’ve seen him in, either being too cringy as an “ikemen” character or not memorable enough. I really think that this is a huge turning point for him, as he plays the character of Kurokawa Morio so effortlessly. Morio is goofy, earnest, and wears his heart on his sleeve, not taking offense and trying to learn and understand Yukiko’s eye condition, which creates an unbelievable gap moe to his threatening “yankee” demeanor (he just looks cute imo). He’s patient with the FL and understanding of the protectiveness of her family, never pressuring the FL to reciprocate his feelings for her.

Sugisaki Hana has also been very “meh” for me, but her character as Yukiko is headstrong, kind, and independent in this drama. Her acting and skepticism towards Morio is realistic and understandable. She is someone who is constantly wanting to prove that she can do things just as well as others can. And the two really do have an affinity with each other!

The other characters are all really delightful to watch, and the drama is kept to a minimum that gets resolved by the end of the episode. It’s an inspiring, uplifting drama that will leave you feeling giddy and envious of the leads’ onscreen relationship. I highly recommend it! :)

Also, the little informative comedy asides by the comedian Hamada Yutaro, who is also blind in real life, are really entertaining! I love that they included him and gave him a platform to speak and further explain the tools, resources and feelings that blind individuals encounter on a daily basis, all in a light-hearted fashion. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

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Completed
Jun & Jun
38 people found this review helpful
Sep 7, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Maybe Needs Improvement?????

First of all, Ah....The Visuals...I'm Screaming!!!

I binge watched the entire series. So I would like to disagree with the people who said in the comments that stated there is no development in the relationship between the leads. According to me, the relationship already started developing when "Jun & Jun"(how funny) first met. Maybe they watched it episode by episode which felt like eternity to few people but to me the relationship development went exactly how it is supposed to be.

And again the story is nothing new, just childhood sweethearts becoming a couple but what made it unique is the cameos (Mr. Heart couple and Yim and Tutor), idol to company worker plot and three people aiming(liking) at Lee Jun LOL. Coming to the acting Choi Jun(the actor) definitely delivered what needs to be and also he is sooo handsome, and Lee Jun(the actor) tried his best to act cute when required but fierce character(towards Choi jun) is what made his acting stand out. And the supporting actors also did a good(may be not great) job. Kudos to them. Also, the leads have great chemistry, although it is only shown at the last episodes - definitely worth waiting.....hehehehe :)

But the reason I gave it an 8 instead of 9 or 9.5 is that the story can be a lot more improvised. Also, I felt like few scenes were forcefully made short or few scenes were rather incomplete. Also, the ending scene did not feel like an ending scene at all. But the climax scene is one the greatest climax scenes I've ever watched.

So, watch it for the visuals, watch it for the cameos, watch it for the effort the team has put into, watch it for the great chemistry b/w the leads. Whatever the reason is...Go Watch it!!...A definite one time watch.

P.S. - Not time consuming, Short and sweet, yeah few flaws, but worth the time!!!

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Completed
Catch the Ghost
38 people found this review helpful
Dec 9, 2019
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers
What I loved: The main couple, and the other subway cops.

What I liked: The case-of-the-week format.

What I was meh about: The main plot. It was draggy in the middle, but kept me engaged in early and late episodes.

What I hated: Ha Ma Ri, the metro police in general (they're terrible at their jobs).

The driving force of this drama, for me, has been the personal stories of Go Ji Suk and Yoo Ryung. Both of them are very warm-hearted people who have had to take care of their disabled loved ones all on their own, so they both have experienced a lot of suffering. The case-of-the-week format worked for me as well, with each case having Ji Suk warming to Ryung's style of doing things more and more, as he comes to understand her drive to save people.

The main plot is admittedly weak, because the police seem ridiculously incompetent at finding clues to the Subway Ghost case. The way it's written, without Ryung's help they would never have figured out who the killer was. Lieutenant Ha Ma Ri is lousy at her job, because chooses to be a hateful bitch rather than be a good detective. Ma Ri ignores Ryung's pleas to investigate her sister's disappearance, as well as her theory that the killer used the subway tunnels. She also finds every opportunity to verbally spite Ryung and put her down because Ji Suk falls for Ryung instead of coming back to HER. Ma Ri could have been a great character, but instead she's just plain hateful, an incompetent detective with an inferiority complex.

I like this drama a lot, despite its issues. Some of the lines, like Ryung saying it was her sister's fault (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about), made no sense at all, and irritated me because it had been established that due to her sister's Autism, her mental state was about the level of a two year old. How can a two year old be to blame for what happened? I can understand why the villain blamed her – he was out of his senses with grief and anger – but I don't understand why anyone else would blame her.
But 90% of the time I really enjoyed watching this drama. So I will recommend it to those who are a fan of slow-burn love stories that have a lot of spark, because the chemistry between Moon Geun Young (Yoo Ryung) and Kim Sun Ho (Go Ji Suk) is amazing in this drama.

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Completed
Coffee & Vanilla
78 people found this review helpful
Mar 7, 2020
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Short sweet and refreshing

This is one of those dramas that has every cliche that’s ever been in a drama. The male lead is a cold 30 year old rich CEO and the female lead is a very shy insecure virginal college student. All of the women want to be with the male lead. And of course all of the men want the female lead. So why am I giving it such a high rating? Why do I like it so much? It’s just so sweet fluffy and romantic. And I’ve never seen an Asian drama show so much skin in a drama. I mean it’s like a toned down version of “50 Shades of Grey.” I’m a sucker for a really romantic drama that has the romance heat up quickly. It’s just so rare and it’s soooo sweet. Very little angst and lots of sweet moments. I like how she’s always sitting on the floor curled up at his feet. And I like how he always runs up and gives her back hugs all the time. This is my go to drama after watching a really heavy angsty drama. It’s light sweet tone is really refreshing. And with only 10 episodes it’s a quick easy watch. It’s definitely not for everyone. But it’s my guilty pleasure.

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Completed
Missing You
68 people found this review helpful
Apr 2, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.0
I remember trying to watch this drama back in 2012 when it started airing. Back then, it seemed too depressing for me and I kept it on-hold ever since. Picking up this drama again after such a long time is one of the best decisions I ever made. This drama now goes straight to my favourites list (*the list keeps on getting longer*).

I have noticed how this drama is not received well with a lot of people. I can understand why. It's got to be one of the most depressing dramas ever. 'Missing You' falls in more of a makjang-tastic melodrama genre which could have gone wrong. For me, of course, this drama worked very well. I loved the whole plot and enjoyed every character in it.

I am usually critical of tragedy being used as a cheap means to get the plot moving. Often, including tragedy is seen as convenient for Kdrama writers when they want to create the 'shock effect' in the viewer. What sets this drama apart from so many others is how tragedy is used as a base here instead of some random, bang-up scenario. It makes room for rest of the plot to build up, leaving scope for a lot of plot development and some amazing character development- which is commendable.

The sad parts of the drama are so wonderfully done (especially the childhood parts) that they will remain in my memory for a long time. They are touching and were successful in moving me. Even the sub-plots are very interesting, including the romance.

I loved how even though a lot of bad stuff happened to its characters, they were able to bear with it. That shows us how there's hope even in the darkest of the times. Okay, I know I am making it sound like some sadistic, boring drama but it is not. It is both beautiful and poignant in many ways. It had a nice pacing and many interesting sides to it.

The cast gave stellar performances. I believe this was Yoon Eun Hye and Park Youchun's best role till date. Although I am not the biggest fan of Youchun's acting, he impressed me here. His chemistry with Yoon Eun Hye was very good and believable to me. Apart from that the child actors were TERRIFIC- especially Kim So Hyun. When she suffered, I got the goosebumps. It was that great! Kudos to the director for making it seem so real.

The OST of this drama is terrific. I recommend every one to listen to it.

Overall, this drama is a whole package with a memorable cast, a touching story, lots of tears, lots of love and a solid soundtrack. Though it doesn't have a very high rewatch value, I won't mind rewatching my favourite scenes between the main leads.

Recommended to fans of melodramas and sad stories with good endings. :)

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Completed
Last Twilight
43 people found this review helpful
Jan 27, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers

Perfect, except the ending

I was completely captivated by this drama from the very beginning — the plot of two people both in the darkest time of their lives finding each other and healing is always so beautiful, and I think Last Twilight sets it up perfectly. You can see very easily how Mokh and Day’s clashes actually bring out honesty and clarity for each other, and the theme of acceptance and treating people with disabilities as equals are both really powerful. I also just love the fact that there aren’t any villains; everyone, even the side characters, have their subplots, their motivations, and their development.

And there’s the beautiful episode 9 ending scene, which really stole my heart and made me shed tears. It was one of the most cathartic moments I’ve ever watched and the OST, particularly the main theme by William, perfectly ties everything together emotionally.

I continued enjoying the show until the penultimate episode and I was immeasurably disappointed to be hit with the last-minute break-up trope, and even more disappointed that the reasoning behind the break-up was something that had come up in the story before but had never been an issue. It felt way too fast and out of left field.

And then the final episode came and my jaw dropped when we were suddenly hit with a three year time jump. It’s another one of my least favorite tropes, and it just feels so many things had changed in the lives of our main characters and yet we were supposed to also believe that they didn’t change that much and were able to pick up exactly where they left off without extended conversations about what kind of people they had become. We got a little bit of them addressing their situations, but I felt like the “I’m sorry for feeling pity for you” resolution felt really shallow and didn’t at all capture how much depth was in their relationship before.

There were also additional plot developments that felt so random and rushed — such as Day getting his eyesight back at the last minute. There’s the argument that it’s okay because he’s already grown to accept himself either way, but it still felt really disingenuous to the disability theme to show that he needed his eyesight back for it to be considered a happy ending. Part of this is also just because it all happened so fast it felt thrown in.

I felt like I really emotionally checked out for that last episode — there was just such a huge gap between who I was seeing on screen and the characters I’d grown to love from the previous episodes. For me, that’s the consequence of time-skips, and I’m sad because this was on its way to becoming one of my favorites before it.

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Completed
Love Crossed
43 people found this review helpful
Jun 1, 2021
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

Not like other romance dramas...MUST WATCH

Holy shit the amount of plot twists!! I thought that this would be a super fluffy and light hearted romance drama between the actual person behind the “virtual idol” and our FL but that’s not the case at all. The story is very different from the current Chinese romance dramas and I’m so glad that I started this! Super interesting with lots of twists and extremely addicting once you get started...10/10 recommend please watch if you aren’t sure whether you want to watch or not!

I mainly started watching this because of R1SE He Luo Luo. I also have seen Dai Lu Wa in “The Plough Department of Song Dynasty” and “Please Classmate” so I was really interested in seeing the two together.

I think that people should really give this show a chance if you like romance with a hint of action and comedy. The story may seem serious at times but it’s also packed with comedic scenes so the antagonists aren’t necessarily super evil (like you can’t take them seriously all the time).

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Completed
You're My Pet
43 people found this review helpful
Jul 2, 2012
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
There are a lot of aspects of this drama that I respect. For one, I appreciate that this isn’t just one of those dramas jumping on the “older woman dating a younger man” craze of the past few years. Although it might look that way initially, it’s much smarter than that.

Without sounding too pretentious, this drama is really about human relationships and how societies expectations make us question our wants and needs in our personal lives. This drama addresses those thoughts that we all have to ourselves: “I like this, but what would my friends think about it? What would my co-workers say if they knew I was doing this? What would my parents say!? Am I wrong for feeling this way?”

The lead characters are complex and well acted by Kato and MatsuJun. Particularly with the Momo character, I really liked that there was more to him than meets the eye. He’s not just some shallow, free-loading bum with a pretty face. Just like Sumire, he too has his emotional scars and is being healed by their unconventional relationship.

In addition to being smart and well-acted, the drama is downright sexy! Not overtly so, but in very subtle and playful actions between the main characters. It’s funny how some of those moments are intended to be completely “non-sexual,” but still feel as such because of the undeniable chemistry between the two leads. There’s also a lot of sexual tension throughout the series, which is never a bad thing. :)

The script is also youthful and wonderfully comedic. Sumire’s best friend in particular is candid and absolutely refreshing in her role. I love characters that unabashedly say what the audience is likely thinking!

My only complaint about this drama is the use of the Fukushima character. Why must all melodramas portray their antagonist as a typical b*tchy, jealous and spiteful woman? I get really tired of that character. She’s in, like, EVERY drama. It would be nice if writers could re-think the antagonist role, or at least make it more interesting. The Hasumi character is also a bit too gullible for my taste, but he isn't completely intolerable and serves his purpose well enough.

Overall though, Kimi wa Petto is so well-acted, interesting, sexy and funny that the plusses greatly overshadow the small, b*tchy and gullible minuses. :)

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Completed
My Country: The New Age
43 people found this review helpful
Nov 27, 2019
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This is easily one of the best kdramas I've seen and for sure the best historical drama I watched.
I knew after only 10 mins that I would love this drama so if you're still unsure if you want to watch this just do that.
The first episode starts with a scene 10 years in the future and this show leads up to this beautifully filmed sequence.
Basically this is a show about two best friends that get affected by the downfall of Goryeo and the establishment of the Joseon Kingdom and how their own definition of how they want their country to be makes them drift apart.
Moreover this is also a story of the political game at that time, especially by Nam Jeon, a high ranking minister, a General that will become the King and of course Bang Won, played by Jang Hyuk with a breathtaking performance, who for sure outdid himself in this role.
The actors were all exceptional in their roles and the OST is simply amazing and matched the mood of the show very well.
One of the best things of the drama was definitely the high production value, the amazing directional and camera work and the great fighting sequences which I personally loved to watch.
It is a serious drama with a lot of tragedy, heartbreak and angst, but more than that it shows amazing fleshed out characters and their unique development. While it was definitely character driven it had a high-paced storyline and the show suffered a little bit of squeezing so much storyline into 16 episodes. I think 2/4 more episodes would have made it even greater.
While I liked the romance, it was overshadowed by the amazing friendship portrayed by the main leads. It was truly one of the best I've seen on TV and I thought the writer made a great job of exploring the different stages of it.
There are a few things I think could have been made better, like the expansion of the FL storyline that started to feel like a secondary character at the end, the unrealistic recoveries of stabbing wounds and the huge timeskips in which a lot of storyline happened offscreen without much explanation, which could be a bit confusing for people who aren't familiar with korean history (like me).
But overall the show was just SO good that I could easily ignore those things in favor of this amazing show which I will definitely rewatch (when my heart is ready again).

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Completed
I Need Romance
42 people found this review helpful
Apr 4, 2012
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
I got hooked.

Started watching it at 1pm ended at 7am (no sleep). That's how good the drama was for me. The complicated relationships made me wanna watch the next episode so bad that I ended up having no sleep.

THIS DRAMA IS NOT FOR KIDS. One has to be open-minded when watching this drama.

Acting was good. The leading woman acted cutely. The leading man acted jealous and cute. I started this drama wishing that the 1st couple would end up together (after watching the 1st episode, i skipped to the last just to know who the woman will end up with). Towards the end, I ended up wishing that the 2nd guy and the leading woman would end up together.

It has a sense of comedy and drama. You'd be able to feel the drama's emotions. What I mean is that when one feels angry, you'd be angry. When one feels in love, you'd also feel in love. That's what I liked with this drama.

I think this drama aired last year (2011). I actually told myself, why the hell did I postpone watching this?! I regretted watching it late. Now that I've watched it, I feel good because another happy ending has ended. ;)

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Completed
Plus & Minus
43 people found this review helpful
Apr 15, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Pluses and Minuses

Overall: I enjoyed how we had working adults (I think these are the first lawyer characters that I've seen). Unfortunately a very cliche plot point towards the end was unnecessary and disappointing but the numerous cameos (especially the enjoyable final episode) knocked my score up to 8.5. Watched on Gagaolala/Viki.

Content Warnings: 2 slaps (kind of acting), fight scene

What I Liked
- the opposite personalities, Fu is more serious and careful, Zheng is more goofy/player and carefree (but I did like that they showed he isn't always super happy go lucky because in real life even really positive people have times when they are sad/angry)
- that they have less common drama jobs (lawyers, laundromat owner, bartender)
- how Zheng apologized to his dad
- the acting, especially you can see how Fu is conflicted and not sure what to think/react
- good production value
- episode 12 moved quickly but was great
- the daughter did a good job and the story she read in episode 12 was adorable

Room For Improvement
- that the sister was recording them
- the cliche of forgetting doing a certain something when drunk
- the cliche plot point at the end especially after Fu talked to Zheng about never doing that (and what terrible timing too)
- the female bartender's cliche plot point
- sometimes the pacing was too slow
- the side couple didn't really hook me, I didn't like the aggressive pursuit/attraction for virtually no reason
- some nonsense things, like tons of lights when camping, lounging around at home in suits

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Ongoing 22/22
Butterflied Lover
43 people found this review helpful
by lux731
Jul 15, 2023
22 of 22 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Just like a dream...

This drama has not been advertised properly as you might start watching it simply because you are browsing for a new drama... just like that..

And then... surprise 😮 the unconventional first episode literally throw you into a dream world and you cannot yet recognise what is a dream and what is reality. Then, in a complete state of mental confusion, i decided to watch the second episode, and that dream was getting weirder.. and then.. no more doubts, i was hooked!

I didnt know the team here is the same as for A Familiar Stranger which other short drama i love! Amd it makes sense as the athmosphere here is similar, with some dark magic elements and a couple indeniable attracted to each other.

Do not skip the initial OST as mesmerizing, has reminded me of the OST from a League of Nobleman.

A must watch! Shame it is too short.. 😕 😔

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Completed
Feel Good to Die
43 people found this review helpful
Dec 27, 2018
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Arrogant males leads are not new to Kdramas, its the norm. What makes this drama so different from all the other dramas about arrogant male leads, is this lead is really trying to become a better person. The female lead is a strong and independent woman who cares for those around her. I love the leads and the journey that both of them take. This story is well written and the characters are well developed.
I highly recommend this series for anyone. Although, if you prefer dramas with a lot of romance and kissing this may not be for you.

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Completed
Be with You
43 people found this review helpful
Jun 18, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
To say that I "liked" this film would be considered an understatement. The original Japanese film adaptation was already amazing, however, the execution in terms of delivery and cinematography by Korea set the bar to new heights.

The story provides a refreshing and heartwarming story about family, love, hardship, and a promise. The story telling of the film is set a pace that causes little confusion, if the the viewer has read the synopsis prior to watching. The opening narrative prepares the audience for what is to come and meaning behind the narrative does not fade through the film. Despite, the beginning setting the film provides light humor through the film where the audience would not be expecting. The ending of the film will leave the audience feeling satisfied and not disappointed as the are no loose ends. The choice of cast, So Ji Sub and Son Ye Jin, were great. The visuals and quality of acting both actors provided were well suited for their roles. Furthermore, their younger counterparts, Lee Yoo Jin and Kim Hyun Soo, provided admirable skills. The overall use of music throughout the film highlighted the message and importance behind each scene. In conjunction with the cinematography employed allowed an engaging and enjoyable viewing experience for the audience.

As previously stated, based on the delivery and cinematography this re-adaption of "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" exceeds the quality of the Japanese film. I personally highly recommend to watch this film in its entirety, as the delivery of the story is well carried out and has little to none loose ends - leaving the audience with a lingering feeling. Although, you will foresee what is to come re-watching this film a second time will provide a more in-depth understanding between each interaction.

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Completed
Dark Blue Kiss
43 people found this review helpful
Apr 6, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
What can i say, im inlove with TayNew, and for me (at least), thats already more than enough reason to love the show.

The only problem is the continuity of the show. Is continuity too hard to remember by the writers? In the previous series:
1. It was revealed that the friends knew about PeteKao in the Kiss series, why the F did they forget about it in this series?
2. Kao was intially portrayed as a photographer in Kiss me Again, even being able to take a job because of it. But then here they showed Pete as the photographer and Kao was acting like he didnt know how to use professional camera, even asking Pete to teach him.
3. The houses - pete and Kao's houses were entirely different from the other series. I know Pete is rich, but then here they are kind of showing that Kao is not as rich. Did they become poorer to end up selling their house from KissMeAgain?

And then again, ill say it one more time TayNew is reason enough for me to watch the show, so im giving it an 8.5. Please, if anybody can tell me where to buy Pete, im in desperate need of one.

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