Completed
Forever Love
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 24, 2023
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

THE CHEMISTRY in a short drama!

"Forever Love," a Chinese drama, showcases a sizzling chemistry between its leads with its realistic passionate kiss scenes.

The drama is short, with a revenge and death plot depicted, yet the story development is weak. Just watch it without having any expectations lol

The chemistry is everything. The leads are like magnets. Their kiss scenes are deep as if these two are made for each other.
Similar to other short dramas, the drama is not of a high quality, yet this drama is exactly the type to unwind with and pass your time, especially if you crave for romance :)

.

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Completed
Itsuka no Kimi e
27 people found this review helpful
Jul 12, 2012
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This was really a great movie and not at all what I was expecting. The acting was amazing, the story something completely different and beautiful, sad and funny at the same time. Seeing that the movie is only one hour long that's already an accomplishment.
Without spoiling anything I can't say much about it, but you should watch it and be surprised. :)
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Completed
Only Just Married
27 people found this review helpful
by Aadia Flower Award1
Mar 14, 2022
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

“Misunderstandings” with atypical characters just hit different

Hear me out.

While it has all the elements of a cliched contract marriage romcom, the characters’ personalities and values set this story apart from the rest. The male lead is somewhat neuroatypical. He has an almost over-logical way of thinking, and is unable to express himself to others. The female lead is passionate about her career and doesn’t consider marriage an important part in her future plans, which is slightly unconventional in “traditional” Japanese culture. This light romcom when viewed through an atypical lens can make for an easy, yet thought-provoking drama about understanding. The popular song 「Heart」 by Aimyon serves as its theme.

“Misunderstandings” is probably in my top 5 things I dislike about any drama because most of the time it’s used as an easy way to add conflict in a story and separate the couple for no good reason. But here, it’s used to highlight how the male lead struggles to communicate and understand what most consider to be conventional behaviour and feelings. Most of us take this understanding for granted. Think about it - we can say “I love you” to a best friend to mean platonic love, and say “I like you” to a new acquaintance to mean romantic love. How do you *KNOW* when is which?

Aside from the leads, supporting characters also explore their own version of unconventional “love” and “relationships” — which (in my opinion) Jdramas do best! What does it mean to be married? Is that really the only way to be “happy"? [SPOILER WARNING for side characters] A man wonders why his wife wants to get divorced in order to have a common-law marriage (where you are still lovers/partners in every way except on legal papers), A women who chose her partner not based on love, but to start an “ideal family”. A fangirl devoting her love to an idol. I loved these mini-insights that can easily be overlooked.

WHAT I WOULD HAVE CHANGED:

Of course, any drama has its flaws.

The last three episodes might be frustrating and slow for some, but I still found those episodes to be interesting. If you consider these two people not fitting into the mould of “normal”, there’s a need to explore a relationship that works best for them! Isn’t that the most important thing?

I also understood the reasons for the cliched setup and abundance of misunderstandings but could have done with a few less, especially the meddling love interests. And finally, I felt the leads could have had more build-up and chemistry with each other, and I wanted it to end slightly differently, but overall I was still satisfied with the romance.

TRY IT IF YOU LIKE:
The contract marriage trope, 『Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu』 (Japanese, 2016), "Because This Is My First Life" (Korean, 2017)

It’s not a character study on neurodivergence, but if you watch it with this open mind, you might gain a new perspective. Even if you’re not interested in the atypical angle, there are enough sweet doki-doki moments to keep a romcom fan entertained.

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Completed
Good Luck!!
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 15, 2013
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This is one of shows that sparked my enthusiasm towards anything related to air travel and commercial aviation. And still is. Good Luck is one of those very rare well-written, well-acted, and realistic aviation-related shows. Well, actually few details are not that accurate, but they are just little nuisances among the greatness of this show.

I like the way its scriptwriter measures various contents in Good Luck!! because they are well-balanced. Most of the story lines are revolves around the career of Shinkai. Every details and his job in the airlines (such as safety, seniority, check lists, training, and even periodic medical check-up) are portrayed very well. It's not suprising that this big-budget drama is supported by a premium airlines in Japan, All Nippon Airlines, so it didn't fail its expectation. Not only the pilot's everyday life, but his relation with fellow pilots, family, girlfriend, and neighbor are amusing as well. It's all natural and very realistic. Some anticlimax near the end may have deducting the overall points of this drama, but that's not a great deal.

Perhaps what bring this drama into life are the actors portraying the characters, particularly Kimura as young first officer (one rank below captain) Shinkai and Tsutsumi (my personal favorite actor) as Captain Koda. While Kimura plays his usual style, Tsutsumi stole the limelight with his superb acting and depth. The supporting casts play well too, while the actress playing the veteran flight attendant Togashi deserves honorable mention. Even some actors who are not known for their acting prowess play well here.

Last but not least, this solid drama may make you turned into an aviation enthusiast like I was. If it's not, at least you will be entertained along the show.

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Completed
Que Sera Sera
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 15, 2013
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
A drama that literally takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotional twists and turns, Que Sera Sera revolves around 4 young people, all dealing with their own personal struggles, and how they overcome and grow.

Kang Tæ - Joo is a suave, unrepentant lady's man who goes about his romantic liaisons with cool practicality. He's your regular joe with high ambitions. He sees the beautiful rich women who fall over themselves for his manly charms and good looks as his ticket to bigger and better things. He’s a realist, with little patience for idealistic folly.

Some people have described him as a jerk, but to me he isn't. He never misleads the women in his life about his intentions nor does he try to hide the fact that he's essentially a gold digger. He's certainly a lady killer, a breaker of hearts, but not a mean spirited one. Women can't help but fall for him, but to Tæ-Joo that's neither his fault nor his business.

I don't always agree with his methods of achieving his goals, but I respect him. I admire his ambition and drive to make something of his life. It’s far better than the laziness, inertia and complacency that grip today's youth. So what happens when a brutal realist and a starry eyed idealist meet and fall in love? Well, chemical waves short circuit and the whole goddamn house burns down.

The show features an intense love quadruple which serves as the main driver of sending your emotions into a tailspin. Normally I hate these type of romance dramas, but this wasn’t bad at all. It kept me anxious but not angry. And as other reviewers have pointed out QSS isn’t your run of the mill kdrama with chaste kisses and secret glances. It’s wild and it's hot and it’s passionate. Sex is not taboo. The characters are age appropriate in their behaviours, if not always in their deeds. I loved it!

What I enjoyed even more, though, were the extremely valuable life lessons imparted:

- Life is a gamble, you can win a fortune or lose everything.
- Opportunities come only once, don’t pass them up.
- By the same token, know that whatever path you choose in life comes with consequences you have to live with.
- Most of the time money doesn't make you happy.
- Love, though fragile and fleeting, is the most important experience of human existence.
- We want what we can’t have, but don’t appreciate what we do have until it’s gone.

It was just amazing. I felt like by the end of the show I learned and grew right along with the characters. This is why I gave the drama an 8, instead of a 7.

The only downside, and why this drama didn’t net a 9, was that I wanted more ‘happy and in love’ screen time with our leads. There was an overabundance of negative angst. Not the exciting, sexually charged type of angst you’ll experience in say … Lovers. I’m fine with negative angst as long as equal amounts of positive angst balance things out.

Characters, on the other hand, were very three dimensional and human, all having their negative and positive attributes. I have to continuously commend the Koreans for writing such layered characters who I didn't see regularly before my foray into Asian entertainment.

Of the four main ones I felt like the female lead Eun Soo was the weakest link, mainly due to how she was acted by Jung Yu Mi. First of all, the actress looked like an underaged teenager and was much too childlike in her portrayal. As the drama progressed she matured a little and you realize she isn’t completely a pushover, but that she’s written as the stereotypical ‘strong’ Korean female lead afflicted with misplaced pride, noble stupidity; defiant, stubborn, obtuse … for totally idiotic, nonsensical reasons to the very end. Don’t get me wrong she remained a sympathetic figure throughout the show, but there were moments when certain behaviours of hers raised my ire.

Eric Mun as Kang Tæ-Joo was absolutely divine. Eye candy and talent, for a voracious cinephile like me it doesn’t get any better. And you could tell he’s Korean - American too because the guy has mad swag. I was swooning! This is the first time I’m seeing Mun in anything and I can understand why everyone says this is his best role. I can not imagine who else could play this character better than him.

But while Eric swept me off my feet and impressed me, the true stand out was actually Lee Kyu Han who I had recently seen in Smile, You and did not like! I thought his character was useless and a pest, but here wow … he played the ruthless, lonely, misunderstood, vulnerable businessman to a T. I sympathized a great deal with him even when I was supposed to hate him, especially toward the end. Finally, Yoon Ji Hye did great as the desperate, insecure rich girl.

Everyone pretty much threw themselves into their roles to create a truly engaging watch.I wanted a bit more from the ending, but was still satisfied with what we got. This was gooddrama, folks. Romance done right. It’s crazy and a little far-fetched as only Korean dramas can be, but totally worth it. If you don’t already have Que Sera Sera on your list, add it now.

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Completed
The Box
27 people found this review helpful
Apr 9, 2021
Completed 5
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

I LIKE IT SO MUCH! will rewatch tomorrow! SO WORTH IT

this is actually a healing movie and all the song is SO CRAZY like it’s SO GOOD my favorite is “sky full of stars” one it’s unforgettable and I got goosebumps. I THOUGHT the lead actor was a vocalist but I just found out he’s a rapper on his group for 9 years?? 😭 HE SINGS SO WELL ngl and his voice range?? GOD he can play any genre and he’s so good with instruments. I love the actor’s acting, they deliver the message and play the role so well, their chemistry 👌 After watching this I wonder do I have a box, and if yes, what is it.....
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Completed
19th Floor
27 people found this review helpful
Feb 10, 2024
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Building 19; An Underrated Show

19th Floor or Building 19 as I think it should have been called because we never really saw 19 floors but the number on the building itself. This show was ridiculously underrated and that's sad. I didn't expect it to be good and only really knew ML, FL, and Bai Shu's characters from a few previous series. But it had a great storyline that never dragged and only a few baubles.

Pros: A show has to be good for me to watch it with AI subs as it's something I very rarely do because they give me a headache. But even before I knew when Viki was actually going to drop with subs, I was invested in watching. I'm so glad that romance wasn't the priority shoved in there like most even sci-fi shows have done. The teamwork and friendships built gradually amongst the players of this life or death game was the main theme. We did end up with two couples ultimately but it was a very toned down process that wasn't forced.

Favorite characters were def ML and FL; the essential high IQ and EQ alpha male (GX) and female (CY) who really in a sense were childhood sweethearts. He had searched for her high and low and they ended up in the game together as her father helped him find and protect her. All of the members of the team went from annoying, having issues, or jackasses to great friends and supportive of each other. Absolutely everyone evolved and grew. I'm actually glad Uncle Lin never regained his game memories because someone else taking over his body and the rest of that would have been pretty traumatic. There were 3 fathers in this series that had daughter issues including the villain but he was just insane. I wish GX hadn't sacrificed himself to save him. I would have let him fry. Thankfully it didn't take GX too long to return to the land of the living and have his memories restored.

The basic premise of this show is that a villain (YML) hijacks a game from two other creators and creates a horror show where players must "die" somehow or figure out a way to pass each level to survive. Players never choose it, but a chip is implanted in their heads because they tried a free VR game and the device implemented it. Those that die in horrible ways, end up in a coma with their lives basically in this dude's hands. And all of this because of his own selfish actions and being unable to save his daughter but because the paramedics didn't get there in time, he blames the world and wants everyone to suffer.

The CGI was truly amazing how realistic they made each world. They showed a video of each level in the game and how it's created. There are comical moments too and tear jerking ones. They also showed each important person's family life and how imperfect it already is plus each night, they get sucked into the game no matter where they are; sitting, standing, on the toilet. All of the twists and turns of this series really had you wanting more. Even YML up until his last episode, you wanted to use a flamethrower on.

Cons: Starting with YML; he was just a loony that deserved jail time or to die in his own game. So him being saved by GX and from just a few of GX's words understanding his mistakes that for 29 episodes he didn't get wasn't very believable. Yes, this was an AI-VR sci-fi show so reality was superficial but this was basic human nature stuff and a leopard doesn't change his spots so fast.

The fact that the group actually believed him when he said he'd remove the chip was poor writing. Also when they sneaked into a high tech building on some occasions but got caught in others was unbelievable. A place like this that had guards and cameras everywhere, how could you not get caught? Or think you were in the clear? It was very unrealistic and this happened like 4 times. Another weird plot hole was that in the last episode the policeman speaking to the press said they'd been investigating this for months and had "the masses" tell them this was going on; what masses? Her dad that was in Uncle Lin's body? Only the ones in the game knew about it and the doctors that were made to disappear or director of the hospital. Where did this mountain of evidence come from that they'd been compiling? The group was afraid to go to the police because they didn't think they'd be believed. Meanwhile, the police supposedly knew and yet didn't do anything about it until they mysteriously and randomly showed up at the place when YML was chucked into reality by GX in the second to last episode to arrest him? Makes no sense.

Personally, though they made weird overtures with that random dude in the last 3 minutes of the show that there may very well be a season 2, I don't want it. Cast will most likely be different and the reason for it wouldn't make sense anymore. Leave well enough alone. Should have just ended it on our group walking away together from that alley fight.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Just wait for Viki to drop with proper subs; it's a great series if you like sci-fi despite some flaws in the cons. All of the actors did a good job. Worth the watch.

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Completed
Cruel Temptation
27 people found this review helpful
by xiaoxi
Mar 5, 2013
129 of 129 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0
For those of you out there struggling if 129 episodes is really worth your time, my answer is yes.

If you are not very patient (like me), you could skip a few episodes in front and still be aware of the entire story line even towards the later half of the drama. As Eun Jae/Sohee carries out her revenge, you will see that it is related to the past events that has already happened in the earlier half of the drama which in my opinion, was too long (but not draggy, yet) for me.

Story 9/10
The story is a kind of cliche faithful wife who serves her husband's family despite their ill treatment... you kind of get the drift. But the excitement kicks in when Eun Jae/Sohee makes up her mind to return with a new identity for revenge after Gyo Bin pulled a failed attempt to murder her and her baby (only the baby is dead, but Gyo Bin doesn't know). Every single episode has you on the edge of your seat, relishing those moments where Ae Ri goes crazy as Gyo Bin cheats on her with his supposedly dead wife.

Acting/Cast 9/10
I deducted a point because of Ae Ri and the real Min Sohee. I simply cannot stand their characters and at some point I wish the scriptwriter will just kill them already. Then again, this goes to show how well every character portrays their role to have me as the viewer feel so much for them. Besides, all the awards that the actors swept due to this drama are enough to certify their skills.

Music 10/10
Can you not love the music? Enough said, every song has me hooked and I find myself replaying the songs even after I finished this drama. Can you believe it, I'm still not tired of the music after 129 episodes of it!

Rewatch Value 7/10
If you're asking me to rewatch episode 1 to 129... My answer would be a no, 129 episodes is simply too long. But I'll definitely be willing to revisit some episodes that were exciting for me.

Overall 9/10
If you have plenty of time on your hands (or if you simply crave some bad woman action), be sure to check out Temptation of Wife. It brings you through the most dramatic marriage life ever through Eun Jae's experiences and you simply cannot help but to feel sorry for her.

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Completed
Still 17
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 21, 2018
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This show is pure, distilled joy.

It’s like sunshine on my soul and rainbow skies with fluffy bunny clouds.

If a television show could be a child on a rainy day playing with a dollhouse and making up a story in their imaginative, marshmallow head while drinking hot chocolate and getting hugs from their puppy then this would be that show.

I could devote part of this review to its pacing problems, its thin plot, its treatment of its minor characters, and some of the questionable decisions the writers made in the name of a humour that was at times a little broad. But when you smile for 16 episodes straight and a chicken regularly wanders through, who cares?

The music is wonderful, the cinematography is at times spectacular and the writers have fun - loads of fun - recreating visual odes to films, especially horror films. Show is fun and show has heart and that's really all you need from a rom-com in the end.

Shin Hye-sun is delightful as Woo Seo-ri, the 17-year-old girl who comes out of a 13-year coma to find she's suddenly 30. Yang Se-jong is delightful as Gong Woo-jin, the man who hides his guilt over the accident with a misanthropic grumpiness. And Ahn Hyo-seop is delightful as Yoo Chan, Woo-jin's nephew who is 19 and just on the verge of adulthood. In fact, I'd love to think of another synonym for 'delightful' right now but that describes almost every character in this show - major or minor.

The main trio is rounded out by the robotic, classics-quoting housekeeper, Jennifer (Ye Ji-won) whose rote delivery and deadpan randomness is... delightful.

Every one of these characters is delightful but what I really love is the show’s underlying message about control and our ultimate lack thereof. It's not actually about trauma so much as the fact that growing up means reconciling your dreams with the reality of life and your own limitations. You can't control your physical limits any more than you can control whether a bus crashes.

As you grow older, doors in your life close. But if you have the patience to wait through the intermission, a window will open and the amazing second act can begin.

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Oct 10, 2023
Completed 8
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

Sons of a tyrant.

Wuershan's Creation of Gods trilogy is the culmination of an eight year labor of love that is the most ambitious and grand scale adaptation of Chinese classic Investiture of Gods ever. This Homeric, often chaotic tale of gods, demons and men that blends speculative history with myth and legend is probably the most widely adapted ancient Chinese vernacular novel. This grandiouse, exhilarating, action packed, and painstakingly crafted production is a visual triumph and an immersive adventure that is best experienced on an IMAX screen.

Kingdom of Storms is the first instalment that focuses on the origin story of the King Zhou of Shang and how he incurred the wrath of the heavens to the extent the gods intervened. In a departure from canon, this adaptation does not lay the moral decay of King Zhou solely at the door of the hedonistic, fox jezebel Su Daji. This version holds King Zhou accountable, clearly asserting that his ambition and moral flexibility already put him on the dark path from the get go. This is a more layered and manipulative King Zhou, who adopts all of his noble hostages including Ji Fa as foster "sons". He ruthlessly indoctrinates his own son Yin Jiao as well as his hostage sons into choosing to be sons of a tyrant over their own fathers. All of the sons are pushed to decide whose son they really are and what kind of man they wish to become. This recurring theme of conflict between father and son and right and wrong adroitly weaves most of the sub-plots together.

Kris Phillips with his magnificent build and his imposing, quietly menacing , almost mesmeric screen aura is impeccably cast as King Zhou. He so much looks and breathes the part that it is easy to ignore his at times bizarre Mandarin and the occasionally stiff acting. Although the stunningly gorgeous Naran is bewitching as Daji, the role lacks complexity. She doesn't get to do much more than alternate between a sensuous seductress and a cunning and feral animal spirit when cornered. This debouched couple lights up the screen with their dark chemistry but I could have done with a bit less of their wanton cavorting that comes off as too unsubtle Hollywood. Beyond their honed physiques and stunning atheleticism, both Yu Shi's Ji Fa and Chen Muchi's Yin Jiao won my heart with their brotherhood and their portrayal of initially bewildered and disillusioned sons who grow up to become fearless and resolved men. They stand out among the dazzling number of up and coming young actors who managed to make an impression in this whirlwind production as does Ci Sha's not so hot headed Yang Jian. The deities don't feature as prominently in this first chapter but I much enjoyed this first glimpse of the diabolically mischevious Nezha.

For those unfamiliar with the chaotic original works, the storytelling may seem cluttered with vignettes at the cost of plot advancement as this largely sets the stage for what culminates in the battle of all battles between good and evil. Beyond an almost gratuitous amount of wildly, intense action scenes, the narrative pays homage to key features of the original works from Ji Chang's meat pies to Bi Gan's seven chamber heart. It culminates in Ji Fa's hair rising escape from the Shang capital Zhaoge. Keep watching after the credits roll as the following epilogue sets up the next instalment where hopefully we see a lot more plot movement. This is a very difficult and messy novel to adapt but so far, I am very impressed with how cogently and fittingly everything ties together. This promises to be the best adaptation by a long mile of this well loved novel, the first part of which warrants a highly enthusiastic 8.5/10.0 from me.

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Completed
Yasha
27 people found this review helpful
May 21, 2012
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
Yasha. From it´s name you could never guess the real value of this Drama here.

I must say that I found it a few days ago by coincidence.
I was randomly looking for good and interesting Dramas to watch when I found out about this one. The plot seemed really interesting. I don´t know the reason but somehow it drew me kind of to watch it.
I was shocked.Deeply shocked...But not because it was bad, it was because of the low rating it had.I saw it when I was updating my episodes.I watched all 11 episode in about two days.Please I want to say beforehand that some people tend to say it wouldn´t be"that good"when it´s already so old.Well I must admit I thought so at first.Because it´s the first time I watched a Drama from 2000.But that was predjudice and I corrected my mind about that now!
The time I watched it I never skipped one part and I thought many times about giving it a 10.But I didn.´t.And do you want to know the reason??
Because it isn´t one Drama which you can judge fast.I thought four days about the rating I would give it.In the end I gave it a almost perfect 9 because I didn´t like ......that about TWO mysterys weren´t solved in the end.So for ME it wasn´t the perfect ending.In short it is a almsost 10:DD

The music: The intro was important for the feeling you get in the whole Drama.When at first I didn´t pay attention to it,it made me watch the second and third and fourtz episode..etc.Only because of the intro in the beginning.It´s like a mental preparation for these partly horrible,exciting and lovely scenes.But in all I didn´t notice other outstanding music while watching the episodes.Mostly only in the beginning and ending of the episode.Still I don´t stink it was important for the whole thing so I didn´t mind.MAybe it would have even destroyed some special scenes.At leat it was great without it.

The cast: There was only one main.role and it was my absolute favorite.It´s stunning how he managed to play both-the twins-so convincing!!!They were totally the opposite and still I was deeply moved by both of them(lol at first I only felt hatred to one of them though).The main-roles were really good too.But not all of them. Still I gave it a 9 because of the exceptional main-role and the other supporting roles.The Drama was like that:The more important the better the actor/actress.Yes that´s fitting.

The Story: It was one part I thought about giving a 10 and yes you could say I was snapped but there were a few aspects in the story developement in the end I didn´t like.Still the whole plot was amazing. I was stunned about it.It was simple but amazing.Probably because of the great actors who played it!
Rewatch value:I am not sure if I ever want to experience these exciting and partly annoying acts of this Drama.You should have watched it at least ONE time and the rest everyone should decide for themselves. You learn by watching this Drama and depending on how much "you want to review" ,I would say you should watch this Drama again.

Well I for myself have enough of the Drama!!It may appear weird but I am somehow fed up and than in the end just relieved and happy that I finished to watch this Drama here.
Now I wrote much.I am sorry about it but I just thought everyone should have the chance to know the value of this Drama here.
That´s the reason why I wrote a review to it.Sure that I loved the Drama and wanted to show it to others....was a reason for it as well(:

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Completed
Backstreet Rookie
27 people found this review helpful
Oct 15, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Lighthearted romantic comedy centered in convenience store

8.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2020 South Korean comedy romance with 16, 70 minute episodes.

Choi Dae-hyun (Ji Chang-wook) encounters a gang of female high school students after suffering a setback in a relationship. The leader of girl toughs, Jung Saet-byul (Kim Yoo-jung), Saet-byul tries to bully Dae-hyun Into buying cigarettes but instead steals a kiss from him. She was immediately attracted to the handsome young man who made a sweet gesture of flowers and a stuffy to a girlfriend who obviously did not appreciate it.

Three years later, Dae-hyun has resigned from the corporate world and is running a family owned convenience store. A chance encounter brings Saet-Byul back into Dae-hyun’s life and when she notices he is looking for a part timer she persistently seeks the job to be closer to the man she likes. Da-Hyun is two years into a relationship with another girl who does not see his worth. Saet-byul is determined to show she is no longer the troubled young girl Dae-hyun first met and steal his heart in the process.

Spoiler alert! I really loved the female lead character Saet-byul she is basically a street toughened kid in the beginning. Being poor is hard wherever you live and it was admirable how she sacrificed herself to give her sister a stable teen age life and start on adult hood. The sister acted just as expected when she was young but showed great character growth when she expressed to Saet-byul that she knew and appreciated what she had done for her. I liked that the younger sister was able to be successful as an idol. I liked all of both of their friends and it added a lot of interest with the things that happened in the multiple relationships. Choi Dae-hyun was perfectly sweet as the male lead character. He was responsible, stable and noble. The second guy was a gorgeous idol who was hopelessly in love with the beautiful Saet-byul he credited her deceased father for the foundation of his success and felt responsible to watch over the two girls. I did get a little bit of second guy syndrome. I loved how Choi Dae-hyun‘s family took Saet-byul in when she had nowhere to go and even later took in her little sister. It was something my parents would have done so I could identify. The love story was sweet and the two looked amazing together. Kim Yoo-jung is so pretty that she was an incredibly believable pair with handsome Ji Chang-Wook. I highly recommend this as a light hearted feel good romantic comedy.

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Completed
In Our Prime
27 people found this review helpful
Jun 19, 2025
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Two outsiders. One equation: trust + time = transformation.

Some films shout. Others whisper — yet linger in your mind long after the credits roll. In Our Prime belongs to the latter.

An older man hides his brilliance behind a janitor's uniform. A young student, adrift among numbers and expectations. Two people, like distant islands — until they start to truly hear each other. What follows isn’t a grand gesture or dramatic spectacle. It’s something far rarer: a genuine connection.

Mathematics here is more than curriculum. It’s a space for thought, a shared language, even a kind of comfort. The film doesn’t promise glittering careers or textbook triumphs. Instead, it shows what can unfold when someone believes in you — not to solve the problem for you, but to walk the path with you.

There’s no melodrama, no inflated conflict. Just quiet gazes, thoughtful words, and a camera that respects its characters enough to let them breathe. In Our Prime finds dignity in the act of thinking and tenderness - in the simple gesture of someone offering a pencil, not to provide answers, but to begin the search.

With quiet sensitivity, "In Our Prime" tells a story of marginalization and a sense of belonging, of the silent power of recognition — how subtle forms of acceptance can reshape a life.

Gentle and empathetic. Uplifting and sincere.

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Completed
Love on the Turquoise Land
27 people found this review helpful
Feb 2, 2026
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

Morticia Addams is now killing demons!

I was about to give this drama a 7.5 score unfortunately the last 3 episodes made it a 7.
This series is pretty enjoyable action drama.
A secret society has being fighting demon like creatures for centuries but now a new menace is on the horizon. Pretty simple and straightforward.
Nothing groundbreaking plot wise but the series has a good pace (and relative short episodes) which makes it enjoyable.

The characters have an interesting backstory and ark. The romance is there but is not overbearing.
Funny to say giving the fact that the series is based on a "fighting organization", but the actual action scenes are the greatest.
They are not cringe, on the other hand they are not mesmerizing as well. The camera tries to cut away many times to avoid showing the audience how the characters is moving.
Another point to make, but maybe this is just me, is that the explanation of how the creature are created or transformed in the show is muddy. I didn't quite grasped it. It gets more clear near the end but during the drama I was confused.
As I said before, until the last 3 episodes the drama was engaging and interesting but after the "big fight scenes", we get 2 episodes with characters rescuing others and the last 2 episodes add cliques...
The female leads loses her memories which is so clique.....
Other footnote is that the drama sometimes forgets characters and don't mention them until 10 episodes later..
If you are looking for something other than Rom coms this is a good show.

P.s. I loved the female lead and her Morticia Addams vibes.

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Completed
The Whirlwind Girl
27 people found this review helpful
Sep 12, 2015
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
I personally think it is the best idol Chinese drama of 2015. All four perfect guys are in this drama. The one that gives but doesn't want anything in return; the rich guy; the nice, warm guy; and the cute, energetic guy. My favorite is definitely the male lead Ruo Bai. I have a huge crush on him and I really like Yang Yang. This drama makes you really motivated because the female lead along with her friends' support keeps improving in taekwondo. The theme song is also pretty motivating. Yang Yang who plays Ruo Bai plays his character extremely well. He doesn't smile but when he does, it makes me squeal. His voice is also deep and sounds really nice, not to mention that he is really handsome. The female lead is a bit repetitive because she adds senior behind all her senior taekwondo competitors. However, she does a pretty good job otherwise. The story isn't super creative but I really like how they focus on taekwondo. Without the taekwondo, it would be more of a typical drama. THERE IS A SEASON 2 SO BEWARE BECAUSE YOU WON'T SEE THE ENDING (UNLESS THERE IS MORE THAN 2 SEASONS) UNTIL SUMMER 2016!

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